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Feasibility and Plausible Effectiveness of a Lifestyle Intervention in Kidney Transplant Recipients (HEAL)

Prevention of Weight Gain and Impaired Glucose Metabolism Post Kidney Transplantation: A Pilot and Feasibility Study

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06640179
Acronym
HEAL
Enrollment
60
Registered
2024-10-15
Start date
2024-12-17
Completion date
2027-03-01
Last updated
2025-06-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Kidney Transplant, Overweight or Obese Adults, Glucose Control

Keywords

kidney transplant, overweight, obesity, glucose control, weight control

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether if it is feasible to implement a study of patients receiving kidney transplantation, to learn if these patients will complete selective outcomes measurements, and to examine if a lifestyle intervention may assist with preventing weight gain compared to standard medical care. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is it feasible to recruit and retain patients who have undergone kidney transplantation into a study to compare standard medical care to standard medical care plus a lifestyle intervention focused on prevention of weight gain? * Will participants engage in the interventions and be compliant to the components of the interventions? * Will there be any difference between the interventions between the interventions for the occurrence of adverse events specific to kidney transplantation? * Will there be initial effectiveness for the standard medical care plus a lifestyle intervention to have a better effect on preventing weight gain compared to standard medical care alone? * Will there be initial effectiveness for the standard medical care plus a lifestyle intervention to have a better effect on body composition compared to standard medical care alone? * Will there be initial effectiveness for the standard medical care plus a lifestyle intervention to have a better effect on fasting glucose compared to standard medical care alone? * Will there be initial effectiveness for the standard medical care plus a lifestyle intervention to have a better effect on fasting insulin compared to standard medical care alone? * Will there be initial effectiveness for the standard medical care plus a lifestyle intervention to have a better effect on insulin sensitivity compared to standard medical care alone? * Will there be initial effectiveness for the standard medical care plus a lifestyle intervention to have a better effect on physical function compared to standard medical care alone? * Will there be initial effectiveness for the standard medical care plus a lifestyle intervention to have a better effect on health-related quality of life compared to standard medical care alone? * Will there be initial effectiveness for the standard medical care plus a lifestyle intervention to have a better effect on changes in dietary intake compared to standard medical care alone? * Will there be initial effectiveness for the standard medical care plus a lifestyle intervention to have a better effect on physical activity and sedentary behavior compared to standard medical care alone? Participants will: * Participants will continue with their standard medical care following kidney transplantation. * Participants only receiving standard medical care will also complete brief monitoring visits at week 6, 12, and 18. * Participants receiving the lifestyle intervention will attend weekly intervention sessions and will be recommended to modify their diet and physical activity behaviors in an effort to prevent weight gain. * Participants will complete outcome measurements as the start of the study and again after 6 months in the study. * After 6 months in the study, participants will also complete a brief intervention and answer other questions about their experience in the study.

Interventions

OTHERStandard medical care

Standard Care Intervention will continue to receive their regular standard clinical care during the 6-month intervention period of this study.

Participants will receive brief conducts (\<10 minutes) remotely (telephone or video platform) with the research staff at weeks 6, 12, and 18.

Participants will be provided weekly individual behavioral sessions during the 6-month intervention to assist in supporting recommended changes in energy intake (diet) and physical activity.

BEHAVIORALDiet

An energy balanced diet to meet energy needs that will allow for weight maintenance will be prescribed. This will be estimated using the Mifflin-St. Joer equation to estimate resting metabolic rate and for most participants we anticipate using a physical activity correction of 1.3 to account for energy needs for physical activity. This will provide the initial estimate of energy intake needs to maintain weight stability; however, the prescribed level of energy intake will be adjusted at 4-week intervals across the intervention based on the observed changes in weight, eating behaviors, and physical activity patterns in an effort to prevent excessive weight gain. Within the context of this level of energy intake, we will prescribe a diet that is consistent with the dietary recommendations of the National Kidney Foundation.

BEHAVIORALPhysical Activity

Physical activity will be recommended in the form of aerobic types of activity such as brisk walking and will progress in 4-week intervals from an initial amount of 50 minutes per week to 150 minutes per week across the initial 6 months of the intervention. Moderate intensity will be prescribed, and will be anchored using RPE (rating of perceived exertion) to allow intensity to be self-regulated according to the participant's capacity. Physical activity will be prescribed in the form of walking; however, the participant will be permitted to engage in other forms of physical activity that meet the recommended dose and intensity.

Sponsors

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
CollaboratorNIH
University of Kansas Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Receiving a kidney transplant within the prior 3-5 months, with the transplant received from a deceased donor or living donor. NOTE: The patient will be eligible for randomization at 3 months following the kidney transplant, or at a subsequent time once clearance from the kidney transplant physician is given, provided that the time does not exceed 5 months following the kidney transplant. * Both males and females of all race/ethnic groups are eligible for participation in this study. * \>=18 years of age. * Body mass index (BMI) \>22 kg/m2. There is no maximal BMI provided that the weight does not exceed the weight allowance of the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometer (DXA) that is used to assess body composition (maximal weight for the DXA is 350 pounds). * Ability to provide informed consent prior to participation in this study. * Ability to provide clearance from their kidney transplant physician to engage in the diet and physical activity components of the proposed intervention and to safely complete the proposed outcome measures. * Ability to walk for exercise.

Exclusion criteria

* Females who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or reporting a planned pregnancy during the study period. Female participants of childbearing age who are not currently taking contraceptive medication, are not post-menopausal, or have not been surgically sterilized will need to agree to use a double barrier method of contraception. * History of bariatric surgery. * Currently prescribed an anti-obesity medication. * Report current medical condition or treatment for a medical condition that could affect body weight. These may include the following: diabetes mellitus; hyperthyroidism; inadequately controlled hypothyroidism; chronic liver disease; cancer; gastrointestinal disorders including ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, or malabsorption syndromes; etc. * Current congestive heart failure, angina, uncontrolled arrhythmia, symptoms indicative of an increased acute risk for a cardiovascular event, prior myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting or angioplasty, conditions requiring chronic anticoagulation (i.e., recent or recurrent DVT). * Resting systolic blood pressure of \>=160 mmHg or resting diastolic blood pressure of \>=100 mmHg or not on a stable medical treatment to control hypertension (stable dose is defined as the same dose and type of medication for a period of at least 6 months). * Eating disorders that would contraindicate modifying eating or physical activity behaviors. * Alcohol or substance abuse. * Currently treated for psychological issues (i.e., depression, bipolar disorder, etc.) that is accompanied by the following: 1) not on a stable dose of medications for treatment within the previous 12 months, or 2) hospitalized for depression within the previous 5 years. * Report plans to relocate to a location not accessible to the study site or having employment, personal, or travel commitments that prohibit attendance at scheduled intervention sessions or assessments.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Body Weight0 and 6 monthsBody weight will be assessed in duplicate using a calibrated digital scale to the nearest 0.1 kg.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Physical Function0 and 6 monthsPhysical function will be measured with a 400-meter walk test. The score will be the duration of time (minutes) it takes to complete the 400 meters.
Energy Intake (Dietary Intake)0 and 6 monthsEnergy Intake (Dietary Intake) expressed as kilocalories eaten per day (kcal/day) will be measured using the Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ) developed by NCI. A higher score represents more calories eaten.
Weight Loss Strategies0 and 6 monthsWeight Loss Strategies will be measured using the Weight Control Strategies Scale that includes 30 items. Each item is scored on a 0-4 scale and the scores across the 30 items are summed to provide an overall score, with a range for the total score being 0 to 120. A higher score is more favorable and represents engaging in more weight control strategies.
Health-Related Quality of Life0 and 6 monthsHealth-Related Quality of Life will be measured with a 36-item questionnaire (RAND 36-Item Health Survey) that includes 8 subscales of vitality, physical functioning, bodily pain, general health perceptions, physical role functioning, emotional role functioning, social role functioning, mental health or emotional wellbeing. All items are scored so that a high score defines a more favorable health state. The range of the final score for each subscale is 0-100.
Adverse and Serious Adverse Events0 and 6 months and at other times when reported by the participantParticipants will be queried using a survey developed specifically for this study will be used to assess for adverse events and serious adverse events.
Body Mass Index0 and 6 monthsMeasurements of weight and height will be used to compute BMI (kg/m2).
Percent body fat0 and 6 monthsPercent body fat will be assessed using a total body scan from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
Body Fat Mass0 and 6 monthsBody fat mass (kg) will be assessed using a total body scan from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
Lean Body Mass0 and 6 monthsLean body mass (kg) will be assessed using a total body scan from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
Bone mineral content0 and 6 monthsBone mineral content (grams) will be assessed using a total body scan from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
Waist Circumference0 and 6 monthsCircumference measures of the waist taken horizontally at both the iliac crest and the umbilicus will be performed.
Hip Circumference0 and 6 monthsCircumference measures of the hip taken horizontally at widest portion of the buttocks will be performed.
Resting blood pressure0 and 6 monthsResting blood pressure will be measured in duplicate following a 5-minute seated rest period using an automated measuring system.
Resting heart rate0 and 6 monthsResting heart rate will be measured following a 5-minute seated rest period using an automated measuring system.
Fasting glucose0 and 6 monthsFasting glucose will be measured from a blood sample collected after at least an 8-hour fasting period.
Fasting Insulin0 and 6 monthsFasting insulin will be measured from a blood sample collected after at least an 8-hour fasting period.
Insulin Resistance0 and 6 monthsHOMA-IR will be used as a measure of Insulin resistance, which is computed from measures of fasting glucose and fasting insulin.
Kidney function0 and 6 monthsKidney function will be measured using glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measured from a blood sample after at least 8 hours of fasting.
Physical activity0 and 6 monthsPhysical activity will be assessed with the Paffenbarger questionnaire that queries on walking, flights of stairs climbed, and other sport, recreational, or leisure physic activity. Physical activity is represented by the total minutes of activity per week and estimated kilocalories of physical activity per week.
Physical Activity0 and 6 monthsPhysical activity is measured by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). This assesses time spent in recreational, occupational, household, and transportation physical activities and is represented as minutes per week.
Sedentary behavior0 and 6 monthsSedentary behavior is measured using an 8-item survey that is completed for weekdays and weekend days. Time spent in sedentary behavior is reported.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Post-Intervention Qualitative Interview6 monthsEach participant will undergo a qualitative interview in a face-to-face format to allow the investigators to better understand strengths, weaknesses, and barriers that will allow for further intervention refinement prior to proceeding a larger study.
Post-Intervention Qualitative Questionnaire6 monthsEach participant will complete a questionnaire to allow the investigators to better understand strengths, weaknesses, and barriers that will allow for further intervention refinement prior to proceeding a larger study.
Lifestyle and Health History0 months (prior to randomization)A questionnaire developed specifically for this study that is conducted as an interview will be used to assess lifestyle and health factors to describe the sample for this study. The score is either yes or no identifying the presences of a lifestyle or health factor.
Medication History0 and 6 monthsA questionnaire developed specifically for this study will be used to assessment medication history. The data collected include the type of medication, dose of medication, and frequency that the medication is taken, and what condition the medication is indicated to treat.

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactJohn M. Jakicic, PhD
jjakicic@kumc.edu913-588-9078

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026